Current Parliamentary Roles

Labour leader Andrew Little and former foreign minister Phil Goff have been in Canberra today lobbying for the return of Kiwi benefits in Australia.

The entitlements were slashed in 2001, and Mr Little and Mr Goff today made submissions to the Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, as well as the Committee For Migration.

"This is about formally getting these issues in front of some select committees so that they then have to respond in some sort of formal way," Mr Little said.

About 450,000 New Zealanders in Australia on special visas still don't have access to the majority of government support.

Prime Minister John Key says he has already spoken with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull about removing some of the hurdles to Australian citizenship, and said the issue is progressing.

The Labour leader also spent time with Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, and is planning on meeting some of the Kiwis battling deportation at Sydney's Villawood Detention Centre tomorrow.

We are here first and foremost to advocate for our children and their future. Australian and New Zealand families are being disadvantaged and penalised due to the current legislations. The system that is in place is not working and sadly many of the repercussions and consequences are being placed upon our children and our grandchildren. We stand united together in true ANZAC spirit fighting to change a system denying dignity and inclusion because we migrate from Aotearoa/New Zealand.